TRUMBULL COUNTY Candidates gather at Democratic picnic

The attorney general candidate says television advertising is overrated. By DAVID SKOLNICK VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER BAZETTA -- Leigh Herington, Democratic candidate for attorney general, is not overly concerned that his party's candidate for governor doesn't have enough money for television advertisements. "TV isn't exactly the medium it was before because of the cost," Herington said at the Trumbull County Democratic Party's annual picnic Thursday. "The money a candidate spends on TV is money that is not being used to its maximum potential." Still, Herington said he plans to run some TV ads for his campaign against Republican Jim Petro, the state auditor who has his eye on the attorney general post. "But I'm going to do a lot of things to get my name and message out, such as direct mailing," he said. Democrat Tim Hagan says he has no plans to run TV ads during his gubernatorial campaign because he can't afford them. Hagan's campaign has $375,060 compared to more than $8 million for Gov. Bob Taft, a Republican. Taft's campaign aired its first TV ad Thursday. Hagan says he will use direct mailings like Herington. Trailing Herington said Democratic polls show Hagan trails Taft in the gubernatorial race by less than 10 percent. "I'm comfortable with him at the top of the ticket," Herington said. Polls show Herington trailing Petro in the attorney general's race and also lagging in name recognition. Herington criticized Petro and other Republican candidates for playing musical chairs with elected offices. Herington said Republicans are running for seats this year that they either do not want to hold or are doing so to set themselves up for a higher office four years from now. For example, Petro plans to run for governor in 2006. About 200 Democrats attended the picnic at Maffits Meadows. skolnick@vindy.com